Read Stonecastby Anton Strout Online

The adventures of a girl and her gargoyle continue in the second installment of this “thrilling, funny and eerie” fantasy series. —Romantic Times on AlchemysticNo Stone Unturned...Alexandra Belarus was an artist stuck working in her New York family’s business…until she discovered her true legacy—a deep and ancient magic. Lexi became the last practicing Spellmason, with theThe adventures of a girl and her gargoyle continue in the second installment of this “thrilling, funny and eerie” fantasy series. —Romantic Times on AlchemysticNo Stone Unturned...Alexandra Belarus was an artist stuck working in her New York family’s business…until she discovered her true legacy—a deep and ancient magic. Lexi became the last practicing Spellmason, with the power to breathe life into stone. And as her powers awoke, so did her family’s most faithful protector: a gargoyle named Stanis. But when a centuries-old evil threatened her family and her city, Stanis sacrificed himself to save everything Lexi held dear.With Stanis gone, Lexi’s efforts to master Spellmasonry—even with the help of her dedicated friends—are faltering. Hidden forces both watch her and threaten her, and she finds herself suddenly under the mysterious wing of a secret religious society determined to keep magic hidden from the world.But the question of Stanis’s fate haunts her—and as the storm around her grows, so does the fear that she won’t be able to save him in her turn....

Title

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Stonecast

Author

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Anton Strout

Rating

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ISBN

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9780425256404

Format Type

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Mass Market Paperback

Number of Pages

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289 Pages

Status

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Available For Download

Last checked

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21 Minutes ago!

Stonecast Reviews

Jen2018-12-27 07:43

I really enjoyed this story. It was rather fun to read. :-)It picks up about six months after the events in book one (Alchemystic). Alexandra is still learning about Spellmasonry and Stanis is in the hands of his ruthless father.Enter Caleb Kennedy, alchemist extraordinaire. He (view spoiler)[is freelancing for Kejetan Ruthenia and helps him take over control of Stanis. Stanis tries to fight his father's control and commands, but, unfortunately for Alexandra, he is not always successful.Caleb comes around, though, and seems to switch to working for the side of good. He helps Alexandra free Stanis and they are able to defeat Kejetan. (hide spoiler)]Unfortunately, Alexandra and Caleb (view spoiler)[accidentally unleashed a LOT of gargoyles on the City of New York. (hide spoiler)]So at the end of the story, (view spoiler)[Stanis decides that he does not want the bond with Alexandra to be restored. Instead, he feels a need to lead the new grotesques, his people, and teach them about what it means to be a grotesque. (hide spoiler)]The final lines of the story: (view spoiler)[Stanis and Alexandra are on the roof of her building at St. Mark's with Caleb, Rory, Marshall, and lots of the new gargoyles and Stanis takes his leave, leading the gargoyles away: The night skies over Manhattan would be forever changed. So, too, it seemed, was my relationship to Stanis. Whether either would prove for the better or worse remained to be seen, but as I stood there among my friends and Caleb, one thing was both clear and bittersweet.Stanis no longer belonged to just me. [fin] (hide spoiler)]So this was a really good story and leaves us with a slight hint of things to come in the third and final book in this trilogy. :-)It was not without errors, though. Sadly, there were a few places where words were missing or wrong, and one place where Caleb was referred to as Alexander. :-(And my new dislike of Rory was confirmed in this story. She is too much like a bully for me. Marshall stepped up, though. I liked how he is now a sort-of apprentice alchemist. :-)In sum, I really enjoyed this story despite a few annoyances. Now to read book three, Incarnate, and see how it's all going to end. :-)

Romancing the Book2019-01-15 08:56

Reviewed by JustinBook provided by the publisherOriginally posted at Romancing the Book I wasn’t particularly excited about this book when I first started reading. I wasn’t that big of a fan of the first book of the series, Alchemystic, but felt that the setting it had created would certainly allow for some interesting possibilities for the second book. As such, whether reluctantly or not, I did read this book with an open mind. And, I must admit, it was certainly better.This being the second novel in the Spellmason Chronicles, reading the first book is almost a prerequisite. This book picks up several months after the events of the first, with the gargoyle (self-titled ‘grotesque’) Stanis still being imprisoned by the bad guys and the heroine Lexi still struggling to figure out how to be good at this whole “I can control stone with my mind and saying stuff” thing. Following in the style of the first novel, the story alternates between the points of view of Stanis and Lexi. Unlike the first story, however, there are almost two story arcs which eventually entwine later in the story.Stanis’ arc starts with him being in chains in the belly of the bad guy’s ship. The bad guy, Kejetan, has employed a blond haired guy to torture Stanis and get information out of him. Most of this arc, early on, involves various forms of torturing the gargoyle and inducing pain. Stanis, meanwhile, constantly introspects on how he is doing this to protect Lexi. Despite this static location, these scenes were riveting, if not violent.Lexi, meanwhile, struggles to learn how to become a better Spellmason. The blond haired guy, Caleb, befriends her, and eventually agrees to help free Stanis. Various drama ensues.Eventually, Caleb, Lexi, Stanis, and friends team up to fight the bad guy. I’m trying to avoid spoilers, but this book doesn’t really end on a twist, even though there are several minor suprises throughout the book. And, while this book ends with most of the plot strings wrapped up, there is one left open for further books, should Mr. Strout decide to write them.This book was FAR more pleasing to read. One of the biggest improvements for me was that the characters seemed much more dynamic. Between Stanis being forced to deal with his torturer, Caleb, Lexi actually growing in her abilities and becoming much more confident, and Marshall actually becoming something other than the comedic relief he felt like in the first book, there more than enough change and flux in all the major protagonists to please me.The story moved much quicker as well. The characters, major and minor, seemed much more human, and that really helped the flow of things for me. There was plenty of action, plenty of drama, and no real dead spots. It was far better for me than the first novel.One of my few sticking points, however, is the Stanis – Caleb relationship. The relationship seems far too benevolent to be considered healthy by either party. Stanis seems to get over the whole ‘torture’ thing fairly quickly, and moves on to some sort of jealousy of the relationship Caleb and Lexi. It just seemed rushed to me, but was definitely minor thing.Overall, if you don’t mind the (sometimes graphic) torture of a human-turned-gargoyle, and are willing to read the first book first, then this should definitely be on your urban fantasy radar. If you’ve read the first book, but aren’t sure about the second, it is most definitely worth a shot. It ties up much of the loose ends the first book presents. This was definitely an enjoyable read to me.

Melanie R Meadors2019-01-20 10:46

Gargoyles, magic, alchemy...I've been obsessed with these things since high school, and was overjoyed when ALCHEMYSTIC, the first of the Spellmason Chronicles, came out. Now I've just finished this second installment to the series, and I have to say, it certainly does not disappoint. With STONECAST, Strout performs a bit of alchemy of his own, combining the darker magic and mystery of urban fantasy with just the right amount of humor and snark (even a few laugh out loud moments) to create a gripping story that kept me up way past my bedtime. I appreciated the geeky nods and references throughout, but what really captured me was the relationship building between the characters, the amount of sacrifice and trust between friends, and also learning more about the fascinating world. Book 1 introduced the characters and the idea of Spellmasonry, but in this book, we really get into the magic and learn more about what is behind this world Strout has envisioned. The pedant in me appreciated the proper usage of "grotesque" and also, I found that Strout really enriched the story with details. Little things, like when Lexi found she had forgotten a hair elastic when....well, things got a little windy (I always forget mine, so I felt for her in that moment), made the story come to life. A fantastic read! But...what am I supposed to do until the next one's out?

Orion Lyonesse2018-12-23 15:53

Alexandra Belarus has the ability to animate stone. She started with the gargoyle, Stanis. Now she has to free him as well as protect the secrets of her craft from Kejetan, who wants new stone bodies for himself and his followers, granting them eternal life. Even though I hadn’t read the first novel, I had no trouble following the story. I got the book from a library book sale and now I have to find the rest of the series!

Amy2019-01-09 14:38

Thoroughly enjoyedFantastic and engrossing, I was quickly absorbed into the story and struggled to put it down long enough to deal with the trivialities of life. Fast paced action combines eloquently with relatable characters. An impressive mix of the mundane aspects of life paired brilliantly with the surrealness of the paranormal. I'm hooked!

Debbie Lester2019-01-07 15:55

Anton Strout's second book in the Spellmason Chronicles, Stonecast is novel filled with magic and mayhem. Urban fantasy readers will enjoy the world building in this book, as it begins to open up a lot more supernatural possibilities for the series. Strout has done his homework, which gives an authenticity to the book that is missing in so many urban fantasy titles. The return of Kejetan isn't far away and Lexi and her friends Rory and Marshall are preparing for the worst, while her gargoyle protector Stanis is waging his own war against his father. There is a lot of tension in this novel and Strout gives it such a sense of urgency that readers will be biting their nails in anticipation of what's to come!I simply loved Alchemystic, the first novel in this series and I was waiting with baited breath for the sequel to come out. Stonecast was certainly no disappointment. All of our favorites characters are back, albeit in a somewhat different way. Strout starts to really expand the world building in this one. He alluded to the fact in the first book that spellmasonry was the only magical element introduced to the world, but in Stonecast the reader gets to see a broader spectrum of the magic that exists in the world Strout has created. I liked the fact the author is adding new facets of magic with each novel. There are so many ways this story could evolve as these elements are introduced. It certainly keeps the reader guessing.Lexi is the last spellmason, but she apparently is not the only purveyor of magic. I liked the fact that Strout is giving the reader a lot more information in Stonecast, about the craft of spellmasonry itself. As Lexi tried to learn and perfect her abilities, the reader gets to see more about how the alchemy works. It's interesting and with Lexi's personality, it's fun to read about. She has a knack for getting herself in some serious predicaments. And this time she doesn't have Stanis to rely on to get her out of them. I liked the fact that Strout is developing relationships in Lexi's life beyond that of the bond between her and Stanis that has now been broken.In the first book we saw a lot more of Marshall and Rory than we do in Stonecast and that was a bit of a disappointment. But Strout is continuing to show the loyalty and friendship that exists between them. I felt like we saw a lot of growth in Lexi in this book, but also some good changes for Marshall as well. I loved his kind of geeky awkwardness in the first book, but he almost came across as a big overgrown kid. In Stonecast he is coming into his own a bit and that was a nice touch. Stanis has been taken by his father Kejetan. He is sacrificing himself in order to protect Lexi and her world. He has convinced his father that he holds the key to spellmasonry in order to keep him away long enough for Lexi to prepare. But he isn't sitting idly by while she is doing all the work. Kejetan has found a way to try to force Stanis to do his will and he is fighting desperately against it. I liked the fact that though Stanis and Lexi are no longer bonded, there is still a deep since of loyalty and longing between them. The attraction they both feel is certainly an interesting idea, since he is made of stone and she is human. Strout adds a new love interest for Lexi in this one, creating a bit of a triangle that it will be interesting to see which way it goes. Caleb is an interesting character. I couldn't quite figure him out. Half of the time I thought he was a bad buy, half the time, not so much. He is certainly self serving, but he's honest about it. He's in it for what he can get out of it. But there is definitely something brewing between him and Lexi. I liked the addition of Caleb and the possible direction he can take the series, but I'm team Stanis all the way. LOL.I really enjoyed this one and it's a series that urban fantasy and paranormal enthusiasts should try. It has some light hearted moments as well as some serious adventure and a touch of romance. There is something for more than just one kind of reader here. A great addition to the series!

LadyTechie2019-01-18 15:05

Oh Stanis, how do I love thee? Stonecast is the second installment in the Anton Strout very cool series about a Spellmason and the grotesque or as we call them gargoyle that has watched over the Belarus family since her great-great grandfather. Although you might enjoy Stonecast by reading it alone you would miss out on a lot of history that was given in the first book, Alchemystic. I really was looking forward to this follow-up and it did not disappoint. We begin the story where things left off in the first book where Alexandra is still under threat from Stanis' father who wants materials that Alexandra's great-great grandfather, Alexander Belarus hid very well. But, now she is under threat from another front in this book, someone that has been highly trusted by her father, who unfortunately plays quite a small role in this book. Stonecast focuses mostly on Alexandra and her friends, Marshall and Rory with an addition, someone she meets that might just be able to help her learn more of her craft. We get to see the story told in alternating points of view between Alexandra and Stanis. Sometimes I forgot he was telling the story in his chapters and I was a bit confused. Other than that I loved seeing things from his eyes and also when there was a cross-over in the telling of a scene from both Alexandra's and Stanis' point of view. It was quite interesting to see how oblivious she was to some things but, hey, he's a big stone guy, so it is quite understandable. The thing is that every once in a while his humanity still shines through in his thoughts and feelings. It was great seeing how he felt about some things and how he wanted to respond versus how he did respond. We are treated to some great scenes with Marshall and Rory being their hilarious selves. I have to say that it was a bit disconcerting that Lexi placed so much trust and faith in someone she did not know and over the objections of the people and grotesques closest to her, especially someone who had been her friend since childhood and the grotesque that had watched over her family for centuries. She kept justifying it in her head but asking them to risk their lives based upon the word of someone they did not know or have any of the same interactions with that she did. If it had been just money or something not so important it would not have stood out as much to me. But, she risked their lives by doing it and it just did not sit well with me. She tried protecting them but she knew she needed them but instead of protecting them when she needed them she exposed them and I have to say it was different then giving them the choice so we hit upon something that made me not be on her side as much as I had been in the first book. Well, she's a bit arrogant there as well but she didn't seem to grow much from that. She approaches this new friendship more like a teenager than an adult. That was my one problem with how things went though it is not a flaw in the book moreso just something I do not like about Alexandra now that I recall she had the same issues in Alchemystic. There were some good stone man on grotesque battles and some great scenes with Lexi and her friends as they used their own skills to battle. I'm ready for book 3!Review can also be seen at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...

Hobart2018-12-31 10:43

Stonecast was not as fun as it's predecessor, Alchemystic, but it's designed to be a that way (still fun, and occasionally funny, however). Lexi's still trying to figure out how to deal with this new reality she's found herself in -- magic exists, she's a Spellmason (at least an entry-level and self-taught one) -- but now the stakes are higher -- her brother and a centuries-old dictator are gunning for her, and have taken her guardian gargoyle captive. She knows that she only has a little while before they're going to come back to finish what they started last time, and she needs to figure out as much as she can before that so she can defend herself. So where Alchemystic had a feel similar to the hero-discovering-his/her-power montage from recent super-hero movies, Stonecast's feel is closer to that of an A-Team or MacGuyver episode where they've only got a little time to throw together some way to take down the bad guys.Spellmasonry isn't the only supernatural game in town, as we all (including the characters) assumed last time out, and Lexi and her friends get introduced to some of that expanded universe -- they meet an alchemist, the representative of an expansive group that studies the supernatural, and see the results of other magic user's work. Along those lines, Strout also gives us a cameo that points to a whole lot more supernatural activity in their world. Both of these characters are working off their own agendas, which don't necessarily line up with Lexi's, and neither she nor the reader are really ever sure what their angle is. Which leads to something like a two-front war she has to wage -- I guess it's more of a single-front war with a strong possibility that at least another front will open up at any moment. Which is good for dramatic tension, good for the reader, but bad for Lexie.Stanis, on the other hand, has his hands full -- his father (the aforementioned dictator) is trying to bend the gargoyle to his will, and is using methods that the Geneva Conventions would frown on. He's also dealing with the severing of the bond between himself and the Belarus family, after all this time that's a difficult transition. By the end of Stonecast, he'll have even bigger problems to deal with.The biggest problem with this book is space -- it's just not long enough. We need to see more of the effort that Lexi's putting into preparation for the return of Kejetan; we need to see more effort that Lexi and her alchemist sensei are putting forth to build up her abilities -- and the relationship between the two of them felt too rushed throughout. And thanks to the alchemist, we don't get nearly enough time with Rory and Marshall this time out -- yes, Lexi explains shutting them out for their own protection, so it holds up narratively, but Shaggy without Fred and Daphne just isn't as fun. I did like Marshall's development towards the end of this book, but Rory might as well not have been mentioned. We just needed more detail, to see more of the struggles in general.Still, on the whole, I really enjoy this world, and enjoyed the book -- and what's set up for Spellmason Chronicles #3 has me really looking forward to reading it

Kt2018-12-22 12:37

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..STONECAST is a rather tough nut for me to review as I feel overly disappointed. I had largely been anticipating this release as the first book in the series sucked me in with its uniqueness. I wanted to know more about this fascinating world, and to see what would happen next after the way things ended before. However, I had a suspicion when things opened up in this book six months later with no real progression that the almost too slow pace from the last book (as far as answers go) would be even worse. And I was right. In fact, things just seemed so all over the place that it was hard to follow anything, let alone try and navigate the complexity of the spellmason and alchemy aspects.One of the strongest points of the previous installments was the cast of characters and their dynamics, which unfortunately just wasn't the same this time around, specifically the one between Lexi and Rory/Marshall/Stanis. By this trio not really being quite so prominent this time around, a lot of the awesome witty repartee seen before was lost. Instead, Caleb was brought in. And if you've read my review of ALCHEMYSTIC, you'll know that I was lamenting the last of romance just a bit. Now, I could kick myself for ever making that statement as I think the romance in STONECAST was one of the biggest derailing factors. This isn't a spoiler as it's revealed early on, but Caleb is Stanis's torturer, and while Lexi doesn't know this fact, it's nearly impossible for the reader to connect with him due to that knowledge. I'm honestly at a loss for what to say or think about this as I could not stand his character one bit, and that more than anything kept me rather disconnected from the book.As I think back to my experience while reading STONECAST, I'm honestly not sure why I continued to push through the book. Perhaps it was due to the left over spark of affection for the characters and my desire to know how the story played out. But even as I kept waiting for things to turn around, they never did. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but this series seems to have completely derailed, which really is a shame as I saw so much potential in the first installment. That being said, I may still continue on with the series, especially if it winds up being a trilogy, but I'll more than likely read more than a few reviews first to gauge things going in.

All Things Urban Fantasy2019-01-08 09:41

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasySTONECAST is one of those books that I had a hard time reviewing. While well written and paced, and creative (alchemy and gargoyles aren’t something we see everyday in the genre) there were a lot of aspects of the story itself that I didn’t like, so while it may appeal to others, it wasn’t as big a hit for me as ALCHYMISTIC, the first book in The Spellmason Chronicles was.There are a few things that nearly automatically turn me off from a book- and one of those is pretty graphic torture. What Stanis goes through near the beginning of the book qualifies as torture in my mind, and then the character who is responsible for that goes on to become friends with Lexi, which really frustrated me in the “how could she” kind of way. Plus, since Stanis is one of our narrators, we know exactly how he’s feeling during the whole process, and like I said, that’s not something I’m too keen on.Having Stanis and Lexi as narrators was a good and bad thing, since while it allowed the reader multiple points of view and the ability to have a better idea what was going on, it was also a bit distracting, since they weren’t together for most of the book. While in ALCHEMYSTIC Stanis and Lexi are telling, for the most part, a single story, in STONECAST, there are two story arcs, what is happening to Stanis and what is happening to Lexi, and they only start to intersect near the end.Certainly, STONECAST had good points as well. Like I said, it is one of the more unique premises that I’ve encountered in the urban fantasy genre, and there is plenty of action and mystery to keep a person occupied. I really like Lexi’s friends, Rory and Marshall and the humor they add to the book, too. I will likely be looking out for book three, since I enjoy Strout’s style, but STONECAST just wasn’t for me.Sexual content: Kissing

Lígia Bellini2019-01-05 08:56

I enjoyed so much the first book, but this one i felt a little bit bored, reading it. The whole story created about gargoyles, alchemy and magic is reaaaally interesting, but till half the book, i think the plot was lost. And I didn't like Caleb! I didn't like how cruel he was to Stanis and then because he start to have feelings for Lexi, he turns into a good guy! That didn't work for me! I like when things happens so fast, but this time it was without a good connection. Again, Marshall and Rory are nice! They bring humor to the story! And they're so supportive, that I find myself enjoying more them than Lexi. But I really liked the end! I think the path the story is following is interesting! Stanis is brave! I'll look foward to read more about him leading the new gargoyles!

Hollie2018-12-30 15:54

This book was of a similar quality to the first one, though I felt the characterization was a little more consistent in this second book. Though the protagonist is still not the most likeable or relatable character in the world, I am increasingly a fan of Stanis and how his character is developing. While it's not the *best* written book (just in my opinion), the premise is still interesting enough to keep me going. I also like that the first conflict introduced is not being dragged out to long, so I can look forward to something fresh in book 3.

Rasheta2018-12-30 07:53

I hated it. 100 pages in and I just can't go on. Lexi and Caleb annoy the crap out of me. Plus Caleb is torturing the gargoyle and Lexi is friendly with this guy! Ugh also Lexi is pretty much useless. She's the whole wishy washy female lead and i'm damn tired of it.

Dr susan2018-12-27 15:05

I forgot to review Stonecast. Although it was better than Alchemystic, I was not thrilled. I did not skim to finish, and the book improved by the 50% point, but there were too many places when I wanted to scream at the characters that they were too stupid to live.

Sherry Mullins2019-01-15 11:41

very well done.

S2018-12-22 11:52

This second book in the Spellmason trilogy was a good read. I'm still wanting to beat up Caleb for his role in hurting Stanis.

Peggy2019-01-04 14:53

I like this series. A little bit of magic, a little romance and a lot of intrigue.On to the 3rd book!

Sarah2018-12-27 08:48

Not as strong as the first book but still very worthwhile. I will continue to keep up with the series.

Elise2019-01-06 13:42

Not as strong as the first one. Not sure if I'm going to continue with this series.

Molly Smith2018-12-31 10:38

See my review at That's What I'm talking About: http://twimom227.com/2013/10/review-s...

Stacey2019-01-12 08:05

Mr. Strout writes one hell of a woman!

Sara Walker2019-01-16 07:36

See my review at URBAN FANTASY LAND.

Ming2018-12-28 15:43

I like Mr. Strout's books -- but this really should have been marketed as a YA (at the most) book.

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About the author

Anton Strout - When not plotting against his mortal enemy Patrick Rothfuss, Anton Strout is the author of the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series for Ace Books including Dead To Me, Deader Still, Dead Matter and Dead Waters.His new series with Ace Books is entitled The Spellmason Chronicles. Alchemysticis first in the series, followed by Stonecast and the upcoming Incarnate.He is also the host and curator of content for The Once & Future Podcast, a weekly show that focuses on discussions with other working writers.His other writing has appeared in a variety of anthologies—some of which include Simon Canderous tie-in stories—including: Boondocks Fantasy, The Dimension Next Door, A Girl’s Guide to Guns & Monsters, Pandora’s Closet, Spells of the City, and Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies, Spells of the City, Boondocks Fantasy, After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar, and the upcoming Human For A Day.He currently lives outside New York City in the haunted corn maze that is New Jersey (where nothing paranormal ever really happens, he assures you). In his scant spare time, he is an always writer, sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the world’s most casual and controller-smashing video gamer. He also works in the exciting world of publishing, and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds. He can be found lurking the darkened hallways of antonstrout.

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